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Horses of the Month for 2020
AUGUST 2020
Horse of the Month #8
Oldenburg Stallion - “DONNERHALL” From: October 2006
(Photo Courtesy of Phelps Media)
Horse of the Month for October 2006 is the legendary Oldenburg stallion “DONNERHALL” shown here being ridden by Ms. Karin Rehbein of Germany. The horse influenced the entire dressage world as a producer of over 77 approved stallions in his breeding career. He died just short of his twentieth birthday in 2002.
July 2020
Horse of the Month #9
The Kladruby Breed From: November 2015
(Photo: Helena Gornerova, National Stud Kladruby nad Labem)
Horse of the month is the Kladruby Horse which is the only indigenous breed of the Czech Republic. The Kladruby breed is over 400 years old, from the 16th and 17th century. The Kladruby horse shares ancestry traits with the Nonius and Lipica breeds.
The stables at Lipica and Kladruby nad Labem often exchanged breeding materials, not just studs, but also mares. It is estimated that there are 1,200 Kladruber horses in the world with more than 1,000 in the Czech Republic. The Kladruby’s average height is 16.2 to 17 hands and they are known for their high front leg action.
Their breeding results with horses in grey and black colors, and all grey horses are born dark, so the foals are dark brown, black. They have noble heads with typically shaped Roman noses, and have a strong neck and long body.
June 2020
Horse of the Month #10
SSgt Reckless From: September 2012
SSgt Reckless was very much a hero to forward units of a
Marine Corps Recoilless Rifle detachment during the Korean conflict.
The little horse that could ... |
Here Reckless is show receiving her
SSgt stripes at her promotion ceremony
from no less than the Commandant of the
Marine Corps, General Rand McCall Pate
at Camp Pendleton, CA. |
| (Photos provided by Robin Hutton) |
In LIFE Magazine’s “Celebrating Our Heroes, listed alongside George Washington,
Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King, is a small Mongolian mare named Reckless,
who became the greatest war hero horse in American history.
The story of Reckless is not only remarkable – it is unusual. And once you learn about her,
you will see why the Marine Corps not only fell in love with her - but honored her and
promoted her every chance they got. And it wasn’t just the Marines that served
with her in the trenches that honored her - her last promotion to Staff Sergeant was by
Gen. Randolph McC Pate - the Commandant of the entire Marine
Corps.
You can’t get higher than that in the Marines.
Reckless joined the Marines to carry ammunition to the front lines for the
75mm Recoilless Rifle Platoon of the 5th Marines -
and she quickly earned the love and respect of all of the Marines that served with her.
Lt. Eric Pedersen paid $250 of his own money to a young Korean boy, Kim Huk Moon, for her.
The only reason Kim sold his beloved horse was so he could buy an artificial leg for his older sister,
Chung Soon, who lost her leg in a land mine accident.
Kim’s loss was the Marines’ gain.
It was not only Reckless’ heroics that endeared
the Marines to her -
it was her incredible antics off of the battlefield.
You will not believe her antics when she was being ignored, or if she was hungry –
let’s
just say you never wanted to leave your food unattended.
As legendary as she was for her heroics – her appetite became even more legendary.
This horse
had a mind of her own – not to mention, being very determined.
Reckless had a voracious appetite. She would eat anything and everything –
but especially scrambled eggs and pancakes in the morning with her morning cup of coffee.
She also loved cake, Hershey bars, candy from the C rations, and Coca Cola –
even poker chips, blankets and hats when she was being ignored –
or if she was trying to just prove a point.
One of Reckless’ finest hours came during the Battle of Outpost Vegas in March of 1953.
At the time of this battle it was written that, “The savagery
of the battle for the so-called
Nevada Complex has never been equaled in Marine Corps history.”
This particular battle “was to bring a cannonading and
bombing seldom experienced in warfare …
twenty eight tons of bombs and hundreds of the largest shells turned the crest of Vegas
into a smoking, death-pocked
rubble.” And Reckless was in the middle of all of it.
Enemy soldiers could see her as she made her way across the deadly “no man’s land”
rice paddies and up the steep 45-degree mountain trails that led to the firing sites.
“It’s difficult to describe the elation and the boost in morale that little white-faced mare gave
Marines as she outfoxed the enemy bringing vitally needed ammunition up the mountain,”
Sgt. Maj. James E. Bobbitt recalled.
During this five-day battle, on one day alone she made 51 trips from the
Ammunition Supply Point to the firing sites, 95% of the time by herself.
She carried 386 rounds of ammunition (over 9,000 pounds – almost FIVE TONS! -- of ammunition),
walked over 35 miles through open rice paddies and up steep mountains with enemy fire
coming in at the rate of 500 rounds per minute. And as she so often did,
she would carry wounded soldiers down the mountain to safety,
unload them, get reloaded with ammo, and off she would go back up to the guns.
She also provided a shield for several Marines who were trapped trying to make their way up to the front line.
Wounded twice, she didn’t let that stop or slow her down. It’s amazing that she survived.
What she did in this battle not only earned her the respect of all that served with her,
but it got her promoted to Sergeant. Her heroics defined the word “Marine.”
She was BELOVED by the Marines. They took care of her better than they took care of
themselves –
throwing their flak jackets over her to protect her when incoming was heavy, risking their own safety.
Her Military Decorations included two Purple Hearts, Good Conduct Medal, Presidential Unit Citation with star, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, and
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit
Citation, all of which she wore proudly on her red and gold blanket.
It’s time we honored this horse in the manner she richly deserves with a Memorial
Monument.
We will be dedicating the first Monument near Washington, DC, at the
National Museum of the Marine Corps at Quantico, VA on Friday, July 26, 2013. Public is welcome. A second Monument and grave marker is planned for Camp Pendleton, where Reckless lived out her days, and is buried.
There has never been another horse like Reckless,
and her memory deserves this kind of honor and recognition.
(Re-printed from Life Magazine)
May 2020
Horse of the Month
Big Star – a Dutch Warmblood
http://stallionai.co.uk/stallions/big-star/
Born on June 1, 2003, a star was born: Big Star.
His sire is Quick Star and his dam sire, Nimmerdor which is an impressive lineage.
According to Stallion AI Services, Big Star is one of the best show jumping horses in the world, with numerous high profile wins including two Olympic Gold titles under the renowned rider, Nick Skelton.
Nick himself has referred to Big Star as “the best horse I have ever ridden”. It is also notable that this exceptional stallion is passing his athleticism and incredible temperament onto his progeny, making him a top choice for any jumping mare.
http://stallionai.co.uk/stallions/big-star/
Big Star was named 2017 Stallion of the Year by KWPN Royal Dutch Sport Horse.
April 2020
Cleveland Bay horses
(Photo provided by https://sporthorse-data.com/breeder/cleveland-bay-endeavour-ltd )
The Cleveland Bay was produced in Yorkshire, England, the name "Cleveland" referring to the Vale of Cleveland in Yorkshire, and "Bay" to its color (always bay in color, no white markings - occasionally a small star). The breed that is genetically consistent credits the two hundred years of pure breeding. Standing at 16-17 hands and weighing around 1200-1500 pounds the breed has muscled hindquarters, sloping shoulders, dense bone and sound durable feet with a smart calm disposition.
(Photo provided by http://www.clevelandbay.org/CBHSNA/Photo_Gallery.html#21 )
Cleveland Bay horses were first imported to the United States in the early 1800s. The Cleveland Bay Society of America (CBHSNA) was founded in 1885, and over 2,000 horses were registered by 1907.
(Photo provided by http://www.clevelandbay.org/CBHSNA/Photo_Gallery.html#3)
Today the breed excels in Dressage, Driving, Eventing, Hunter, and pleasure.
In the 2017 census data; there are 192 purebred Cleveland Bays in the United States and Canada. The CBHSNA recognizes Cleveland Bays with a minimum of 1/8th blood and with papers indicating CB ancestry.
March 2020
The Exmoor Pony
(Photo provided by
http://exmoorwildlifesafaris.co.uk/exmoor-info/exmoor-ponies )
The United Kingdom Rare Breeds Survival Trust declared the Exmoor Pony to be "endangered”. The population numbers are estimated to be less than 500 in Great Britain. 2010 there were estimated to be around 800 Exmoor ponies worldwide.
Exmoor ponies are usually dark bay with pangare markings around the eyes, muzzle and flanks and underbelly. No white markings are allowed on the registered bred. They stand at 11.1 to 12.3 hands and could reach 13.2hh.
(Photo provided by
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6244833 © Copyright Chris Morgan )
Exmoor’s hardiness makes it perfect for conservation grazing, and assist in the management of different types of grasslands, pastures, and to the conservation of Exmoor, UK itself.
In the late 1800s, the National Pony Society began to register Exmoors and Exmoor crossbreds. In 1921, the Exmoor Pony Society was formed, and published its first Stud Book in 1963. Registered purebred Exmoor’s were branded with a four-point star on the near (left) shoulder until the 2000s which attracted criticism.
It is now limited to semi feral ponies as the preference of breeders. In 2000, the Moorland Mousie Trust, a British organization, assist in the preservation of the Exmoor pony.
(Photo provided by http://www.exmoorponytrekking.co.uk/)
They were used as pit ponies in the past for mining as far back when the Romans came to the UK for mining tin. Today some ponies are shown – driving, riding and agility and even winning at the International Horse Agility Championships in 2011.
February 2020
"Jagger"
(Photo provided by Ms. Shields.)
The horse of the month is Jagger, a 14 year old registered Paint, owned by Michele Shields of Bainbridge, WA.
January 2020
The Haflinger
In 1946, an effort by breeders concentrated on establishing purebred Haflingers.
As of 2005, almost 250,000 Haflingers existed worldwide.
Haflinger breeding farms operate in several countries – United States, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, England, and Italy however most of the breeding stock still comes from Austria.
In 2003, a Haflinger became the first horse to be cloned, resulting in a filly named Prometea.
Haflingers have many uses, including light draft, harness work, and various under-saddle disciplines
such as endurance riding, equestrian vaulting, and therapeutic riding. They are also still used by the Austrian and German armies for work in rough terrain.
The World Haflinger Federation, the international governing body that controls breed standards for the Haflinger, is made up of a confederation of 22 national registries, and helps set breeding objectives, guidelines, and rules for its member organizations. More information is available at the following links:
World Haflinger Federation
The Haflinger Society of Great Britain
The American Haflinger Registry
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